SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6206
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Passed Senate, February 17, 2014
Title: An act relating to telecommunications installations.
Brief Description: Concerning telecommunications installations.
Sponsors: Senators Honeyford, Conway and Holmquist Newbry.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Commerce & Labor: 2/03/14, 2/05/14 [DP].
Passed Senate: 2/17/14, 48-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Holmquist Newbry, Chair; Braun, Vice Chair; Conway, Ranking Member; Hasegawa, Hewitt, King and Kohl-Welles.
Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)
Background: A person or business seeking to engage in the business of installing or maintaining telecommunications systems must have either a telecommunications contractor license, a general electrical license (01), or a limited energy system specialty license (06). Individual electrician certification is not required for telecommunications work.
The scope of work for telecommunication contractors is defined in statute and rule, and generally allows work on telecommunications systems which encompasses all forms of information generation, processing, and transporting of signals conveyed electronically or optically within or between buildings, including voice, data, video, and audio. Telecommunications systems include structured cabling systems, compatible connecting hardware, telecommunications and premises switching equipment, infrared, fiber optic, radio-frequency, and other limited-energy interconnections associated with telecommunications systems or appliances.
Summary of Bill: The definition of telecommunications system is amended to cover certain equipment that provides operational power to a telecommunications device and power distribution associated with telecommunications systems.
Horizontal cabling for a telecommunications outlet, necessary to interface with building signal systems outside of a telecommunications closet, is the work of a telecommunications contractor.
Lighting is specifically excluded from the scope of a telecommunications system.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Telecommunication installers have been installing modern cabling for years and powering those devices across those same cables. There was an error in interpretation regarding the scope of telecommunications work. A group of industry stakeholders developed the bill language to clarify the work that telecommunications contractors are doing now. This bill overrules Labor and Industries' interpretation and allows the telecommunications installers to continue doing what they are doing.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Kerry Cox, ITC Systems; Marlon Schafer, Odessa Office Equipment, Wireless Internet Service Providers Assn.; Ron Main, Broadband Communications Assn. of WA.